They do,and that is an option but I wouldn't personally recommend it. You would be putting yourself at the mercy of a promoter who might be more interested in selling tickets than your safety or your development (although a lot of promoters aren't like that).if you put yourself in the hands of a coach and a gym,then they will care more about you than how many tickets are sold.i couldn't think of anything worse than stepping into a cage against someone with 10 times the experience and skillet than me,but it does happen.
Hope this helps somewhat

You're not necessarily putting yourself at the mercy of a promoter, if you train at a few gyms as an independent due to work commitments and you have a sound head on your shoulders, you should be able to manage yourself, making sure you get the right fights, anyone who allows themself to be put in there with someone who outmatches them obviously isn't unless their reasoning isn't necessarily to progress into a serious fighter. If you don't want to sell tickets you don't have to, make the promoter aware and take what you have to to get started.

Hahahaha.. funny guys!!! Ive had so much on my hands these past few yrs that not many people could cope with it! I'm now starting to get back into serious training 'not pies b4 you start Lol.' I'm just going to fight like everbody does and what happens happens! I'm dead serious and would appreciate positive feedback and not bitchy comments like these and in the other post i saw! I'm not a 2 faced bitch so lets just keep it serious please ok?

it's never gonna be serious! don't ask for it to be serious! don't hope for it to be serious! don't even secretly imagine that it could possibly be serious. it's cagewarriors forum. nothing good is ever going to come of this place. don't hope.